Eight individuals sustained minor injuries when a vehicle unexpectedly drove into a crowd gathered outside the Barcelona vs. Espanyol football match on Thursday. Local officials have classified the event as an accident.
The incident occurred during the initial stages of the game at Barcelona`s RCDE Stadium. The car struck and injured several supporters in the crowd. Fans inside the stadium became aware of the situation and attempted to stop the match, with some yelling at the Espanyol goalkeeper, Joan Garcia, to get the referee`s notice. A few spectators even entered the area between the advertising boards and the field to signal Garcia, which eventually led to the game being paused. However, these individuals were subsequently escorted out of the stadium by security personnel.
Initial reports confirmed that all injuries were minor. Salvador Ilia, who presides over the government of Catalonia, stated that the incident was not considered a deliberate attack.
Local police released a statement confirming there was no threat to anyone inside RCDE Stadium. A similar announcement was also made within the venue itself.
Despite the disruption, the match continued. Barcelona went on to win 2-0, with Lamine Yamal scoring the decisive goal. This victory secured their title as La Liga champions.
Adrian Whitmore